Inside the Obama Center: 12 Iconic Michelle Obama Dresses, From $19 Target to Haute Couture
The newly opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago features a glass-case exhibit of twelve of Michelle Obama’s most memorable outfits, including a $19 Target dress and several designer gowns.
The Obama Presidential Center, opened on Chicago’s South Side, includes a fashion showcase that draws as much attention as its life-size Oval Office replica. Curator Louise Bernard explained that twelve dresses worn by Michelle Obama are housed in a climate-controlled glass case to preserve them for future generations. The collection spans her early election-night look by Narciso Rodriguez, the bright Isabel Toledo inauguration ensemble, a Naeem Khan embroidered gown from the Met’s Costume Center opening, and a striking Versace chainmail dress worn to her final state dinner.
Among the more modest pieces is a black-and-beige geometric-print dress from Merona for Target, which retailed for $19 and was frequently worn on family vacations. Most items are on loan from the National Archives’ Obama Presidential Library, while the Target dress and its Sacai belt were loaned directly by Michelle Obama herself.
Why it matters
The exhibit highlights how fashion can reflect cultural influence and public interest in a former first lady’s style choices.
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